Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-06-16
THE HOyORED DEAD.
DOas ~ faE ON sOvS 0Arhss ~
aSNOss " JUHS ssOk.
A Number os Hm Pup,'s Meet 20 Ceiebrsse the
18th Anniversary OF Hh B,rth-s. 2.
Eb,s Address Remarks by Other
Weii-Known Gentiemen.

LIrIrz, June l6--At 10 4 IN. to day the
nesting O. those interested in paying q
tribute to the memory Of John Beck, the
honored school teacher, WAS held. N. Eu-
maker, esq, of Lancaster, presided and Rev. |
J. Max Hsrk offered prayer. Mr.. Eilmsker
spoke feelngly Of the dead teacher Letters
we're read from Charles A. Heinitsh and J. Y. |
of Lancaster, Joseph Beck, j. Y. |
Becker, =. &. Eilmsker, Philadelphis, J. u. /
Beck, and A. X Beck, Ltitz, all old pupila
The principal address was delivered by
Simon =. Eby, esq, of Lancaster. After re-
ferring to the mission Of the teacher as being
very important, he said in substance:
To-day We have cor.e TO do honor TO such
an one, John Beck, our beloved teacher. 4
shining example both As an instructor OF
youth and in his character as q man. lie
began his lies work, As he tells us in . very
humble way teaching at first five appren.
tice boys three evenings in each week, in the
then quiet and secluded Moravian village OF
Lititz.
Having intended to follow . different
calling; being modest of his own abilities
and highly sensitive OF the responsibilities
connected with the undertaking, he declined,
several times, the oilers TO become atsacAer.
Finally, however, upon the urgent request Of
the good people of Lititz, he s,ceded TO their
wishes, and on the "a of January, A. d.,
ISIS, took charge, with many misgivings, OF
the village school, then consisting OF twenty
two boys, kept in building once used ~ q
blacksmith shop.
From that eventiul day and small begin.
ming in the red.tile rooted school house for.
ward for fifty long years until in May, 1865,
when he voluntarily laid down his work,
wrote hts vaedictory letter, addressed to his
former . SO pupils, and signed his name to 1t
as their humble teacher he devoted all
his great energies OF mind and body sipgiy
to the task he at tirst 50 reluctantly assumed.
During that extended period he labored early
and late, without haste and without rest, pa
tienuy, faithfully, vigtlantly, devoutiy to the
end. The germs oil learning implanted in
his mind while at Nazareth hall, where he re-
ceived his education, growing with his
growth, and strengthening with his strength,
rs the field Of his usefulness wdened before
him.
On the site of the old blscksm shop he
erected his new academy. But even this
WAS found too small to hold the constantly
increasing numbers who came docking in
from far and near to enjoy the benefit of his
instructions More room had to be provided
and the large three storied stone building ad.
jacent, known rs the !" Brothers House,"
was likewise appropriated for school pur.
poses
In lsi0, or even earlier, when most of us
here present became his pupils, the school
had obtained wide reputation aud by reason
OF its numbers had been divided and graded
in the new house and three in the stone
building, each presided over by An assistant
teacher, he retaining the control and manage
ment OF the entire establishment teaching
special branches and having care OF the boys
gen orally in and out OF school when not
under the immediate charge Of his assistants.
He exercised q wonderful influence over
the young; was quick to read their char
scter and gain their confidence He encour.
aged the timid comforted the distressed,
cheerpd the despondent restrained the
forward, convinced the perverse and refac
tory by An appeal to the reasonableness of his
demands, or subdued them as with a Il ash Of
his displeasure, for when aroused he was
awful He was a man of decided chaActer
and great energy. This no doubt con.
tributed much to the influence he welded as
teacher. But the true secret of his power
over his pupils lay in the great love he bore
them.
his learning was solid and practical rather
| than abstruse. AS q teacher Of penmsnshi p,
| we question whether he ever had his equal,
certainly never his superior. And in his
| weekly winter evening lectures, he became
truly eloquent, at times reaching the sub.
| time. Some Of his descriptions when as
sisted by illuminstions from his magic Ian.
| lern, seemed to our youthful minus like
glimpses Of the Apocalypse.
| 1t may also be said 70 his credit that much
/ OF bis knowledge and method OF teaching &
was self acquired. And he not only in.
| structed himself, but like q master work man
|
| with, he generally selected from among the
pupils OF his own scbOO! the assistants he
seeded aud trained them for the places he
| wished them to fill.
| His school WAS emphsticslly q school for
| the people. In 1t was taught that which was
useful in all the walks OF life And ther Elm
| sat without difference or distinction the
heir to millions by the side of the charity
| scholar (; the humble country lad beside the
sons OF some OF our most eminent and dis.
isb al ri A n ali had To hnv
| to the chalk line marked out for them by the
master.
The bodily health of his pupils also en- gagged
his serious attention. Cleanliness with him
was one OF the cardinal virtues. Regularly
every morning, when the school assembled
| for prayers, the boys we're ranged in line and
had to show clean hands, feet, teeth, neck,
head and clothes. Such as failed 10 pass bis
| rigid inspection were at once sent home To
| put themselves in proper condition.
That his pupils might have the necess ary
exercise, he provided for them an ample
play ground, properly inclosed. Over the
| central arch OF the entrance to this, on the
outside, was painted an eagle, emblemsiic OF
health and strength, bearing sloit scroll in.
scribed in letters Of gold with the motto,
"The result OF exercise IL health" And on
| the inside over the same arch, surrounding q
globe and other implements of the school
| room, appeared the admonition In gilt letters
"ln all your actions and ahusements, avoid
| profane language and quaIrelA"
Although passed from earth, he still speaks
to us from beyond the grave, In the closing
words Of bis valedictory, OF the blessed hops
| OF meeting us again.
| Who knows" said bis old master, when
| he advised him to become Q teacher, who
knows to what 1t may lead, you may possibly
| become Q more useful man than il you re-
! main ashoemaker.'
| So may we say to-day, who knows, but our
| departed friend has been called from his
| place on earth only to ill . higher one in q
better world. And that the blessed words
| may have already been spoken 10 him, "well
done thou good and faithful servant, thou
hast bsen faithful over Q few things will
make thee ruler over many thinga"
And we, few Of his many pupils on this,
the 96th anniversary OF his birthday, have
come to show our respect, acknowledge our
obligations, by placing upon bis grave the
tributes of our affection, embiamatic OF the
mingled strength, lovelinsss and constancy OF
his character; leaves of the oak, flowers OF
the field, and sprays of the evergreen pine,
all bound together With the symbol OF hope
and immortality.
In conclusion, let us hope that our coming
together here may be but the forerunner oi
other like reunions, and that before we sepa.
rate 10 day, labor of love may be resolved
upon, which in the course OF Q few more
years will place some enduring memorial OF
our teacher near the spot where he 10 faith.
fully labOred for fifty years-a memorial